CHRISTIAN CHURCH >> Mission of the church
SDAH 365
O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
to tell to all the world that God is light,
that he who made all nations is not willing
one soul should perish, lost in shades of night.
Text
1
O Zion, haste, thy mission high fulfilling,
to tell to all the world that God is light,
that he who made all nations is not willing
one soul should perish, lost in shades of night.
Refrain
Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace;
tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.
2
Proclaim to every people, tongue, and nation
that God, in whom they live and move, is love;
tell how he stooped to save his lost creation,
and died on earth that we might live above.
3
Give of thine own to bear the message glorious;
give of thy wealth to speed them on their way;
pour out thy soul for them in prayer victorious;
O Zion, haste to bring the brighter day.
4
He comes again; O Zion, ere thou meet Him,
Make known to every heart His saving grace;
Let none whom He hath ransomed fail to greet Him,
Through thy neglect, unfit to see His face.
Hymn Info
Biblical Reference
(a) Isa 40:9; 2 Pet 3:9 (b) Rev 14:6; Acts 17:28 (c) Luke 10:35 (r) Isa 52:7
Author
Mary A. Thompson (1834-1923)
Year Published
1871
Hymn Tune
TIDINGS
Metrical Number
11.10.11.10.Ref.
Composer
James Walch (1837-1901)
Year Composed
1875
Get the hymn sheet in other keys here
Notes
Get to know the hymns a little deeper with the SDA Hymnal Companion. Use our song leader’s notes to engage your congregation in singing with understanding. Even better, involve kids in learning this hymn with our homeschooling materials.
Sabbath is an opportunity for us to have fellowship with one another and the same time is to publish the glad tidings of peace.
-Notes for SS Lesson 4th Quarter 2020 “Education.” Lesson 12 -Sabbath: Experiencing and Living the Character of God (Thursday)
The Bible speaks of Zion as the city of God. In Hebrews 12:22 (NKJV) We read: “But you have come to Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels.” This Bible verse is saying that the city of God is a city with a great number of messengers known as the heavenly angels. Their mission is to bring tidings of Jesus, redemption, and release. (Lesson 13, 2nd Quarter 2021 -Thursday, New Covenant and Mission, 6/24/2021)
As we become children of God, we find our life purpose in letting others know of His love, and consecrate all, bending every energy to its accomplishment. (Lesson 7, 1st Quarter 2023, Managing for the Master – Sunday, “Zacchaeus”, 2/14/2023)
Mary Ann Faulkner was born in London, England, on December 5, 1834, and spent her early years in that country. She emigrated to the United States and married John Thompson, librarian of the Free Library in Philadelphia. They were both members of the Protestant Episcopal Church, he being one of the churchwardens. In 1868 she was sitting up with one of her children who was sick with typhoid fever. She liked FW. Faber’s hymn, “Hark, Hark, My Soul,” which is in 11.10.11.10 meter, and had a desire to write a missionary hymn in the same meter. During her night vigil she succeeded in writing the words of stanzas, but a refrain eluded her. Three years later, in 1871, she wrote words for a refrain, using words from Isaiah 52:7.
Thomson wrote 40 hymns and many poems. The words of this hymn were published in 1892 in The Church Hymnal of the Episcopal Church; the words and music appeared in the 1894 edition of the same book. Thomson died on March 11, 1923, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
TIDINGS was composed in 1875 by James Walch (1837-1901; see SDAH 40) for the words “Hark, Hark, my soul,” mentioned previously. It is so named because of the tidings mentioned three times in the refrain. Seeing that the meter is identical with Thomson‘s hymn, it was fitted to it after having been used for its original purpose in 1877 in The Hymnal Companion to the Book of Common Prayer.
Explore more hymns:
